will we ever win?

Draft open thread

(I moved this to the top of the page)

Been busy lately and didn't have the time to do the usual draft prediction post. But here is a post to comment on the Eagles picks.

First round pick: Brandon Graham DE
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Brandon is a short thickly-built player with good athleticism. He has very good initial quickness as an edge rusher but doesn't have elite speed or range in pursuit. Brandon uses his hands well to control and leverage blockers versus the run as well as to counter as a pass rusher. Graham is the Wolverines' most disruptive defender and plays with a high motor. He doesn't have enough burst and lateral agility to excel as a stand up player in the NFL but may be effective in zone blitz schemes in limited coverage responsibilities. Brandon is a good football player who should be productive at the next level in the right defensive scheme.

Note that a seven years ago the Eagles traded up to 15 to draft Jerome McDougal and Troy Polamalu was picked one pick later. This year the Eagles traded up to 13 to pick Graham and one pick later the Seahawks took safety, Earl Thomas.

Second round pick: Nate Allen S
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Allen has been an excellent safety for the Bulls. He has a good combination of size and athleticism. He isn’t a consistent physical open field tackler and needs to finish better at the next level. Allen has good balance, foot agility and quickness for his size. He shows good range in pursuit but needs to be more consistent taking angles to the ball. Allen understands leverage and is rarely out of position when defending both the run and the pass. He can re-route receivers with his long arms and is technique sound in combination man and zone coverages. Allen is a good football player that has the mental toughness, size and athleticism to work into a starting position in his rookie season.

Word is this guy is "NFL ready" and his faults are all correctable via coaching. He is a "ball hawk" but isn't a devastating hitter. Eagles did address a need - a safety that can cover.

Third round pick: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim DE
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Te'o-Nesheim has been a productive four-year starter for the Huskies defense. Te'o-Nesheim is an undersized defensive end that wins with toughness, effort, instincts and technique. He lacks great quickness, burst and agility as a pass rusher but does a nice job using his hands to counter effectively. Te'o-Nesheim will have a tough time anchoring effectively versus the run and doesn't possess the speed, quickness and agility to project to an outside backer in a 3-4 defensive scheme. His high motor, leadership skills, toughness and instincts gives him a chance but he clearly overachieved in college and is not likely to transition well at the next level.

According to the write up, this doesn't look like a good pick. Should have kept trading down.

Fourth round pick (1): Trevard Lindley CB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Lindley was banged up some in his senior season (therefore production is down) but for the most part has been a durable defender for the University of Kentucky over his career. Lindley is a slender built player with great athleticism that was the Wildcats most active coverage defender. Not a physical run support player but is a willing tackler and leverages the ball well. Solid reactor in zone and man schemes to jump patterns and make plays on the ball. Lindley isn’t an elite corner but has the tools to develop into a solid contributor as a corner in sub packages (nickel back) as well as special teams.

The Eagles continue the trend this draft of picking fast, smart, "high motor," guys that are not big hitters or even big. I guess they think speed will kill. Of course fans want hits that kill.

Fourth round pick (2): Keenan Clayton LB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Clayton was a productive two-year starter for the Sooners' defense. He lacks great size for the position but is a good athlete who shows quickness and range in pursuit. He is a solid open-field tackler, keeping good body positioning and level in space. He is a competitive linebacker but isn't great to take on and shed effectively (especially versus interior power run schemes). He has the lateral agility and quickness to be an effective zone coverage defender but is inconsistent with his angles to the ball as well as biting on run fakes, which gets him out of position. Clayton is a good football player but is limited due to his size, which likely will relegate him to a back-up role and special teams duty.

Looks like they're drafting for special teams now.

Fourth round pick (3): Mike Kafka QB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Kafka rebounded for a nice senior season after being bounced around and showing a lot of inconsistencies during his first three years. He is a touch passer that relies on timing and accuracy with the short throws to get the job done. He has marginal arm strength and needs room to step into his throws in order to get any zip on the ball. He generally takes the snap from the shotgun formation and will need his share of time to learn how to go under center, take the snap and drop to the pocket. He is a smart quarterback that can read coverages and go through his progressions but has too many physical limitations to be considered more than a backup.

Let the "Kafka-esque" jokes begin.

Fourth round pick (4): Clay Harbor TE
(nfl.com doesn't have anything on him in terms of a write up.)I guess this guy is insurance in case that Ingram guy they picked last year, who is a walking injury, never heals up.